Tineke and Joep Bartels have been bestowed the KNHS Golden Pin for their achievements and contributions to Dutch Dressage over the years. The Dutch couple was celebrated in a special ceremony at the 2017 CDI-W Amsterdam.
At the end of 2016 Tineke Bartels retired as Dutch team trainer for the pony, junior and young riders. Tineke held this position for 11 years and has achieved no less than 69 international medals with her teams in that period. Her former team riders had gathered in Amsterdam to praise and celebrate Tineke in the ceremony.
Joep Bartels was honoured for being one of the driving forces behind the Rabo Talent Plan, which has become a very successful youth development programme in The Netherlands, sponsored by Rabobank. The plan helps Holland's best young rider to make a smoother transition to senior Grand Prix level. In 2016 Rabobank announced its withdrawal as title sponsor of numerous programmes run by the Dutch Federation.
"I was very moved by the way my riders gave me roses, personal thank you notes and a beautiful bronze statue," said Tineke Bartels about the emotional ceremony in Amsterdam. "We are still receiving tons of sweeth reactions. I'm really enjoying it."
The Golden Pin is the highest achievement the Dutch equestrian federation grants to its members for their contribution.
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